US233142A - James b - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

JJ. B. DAVIS. -Look for Ordnance.

No. 233,142. Patented Oct. i2 880,

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JAMES B. DAVIS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

LOCK FOR ORDNANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,142, dated October 12, 1880.

Application filed August 16, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES BAZIL DAVIS, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Washington city, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Discharging Ordnance, of which the following is a specification.

My invent-ion relates to certain new and useful improvements in apparatus for discharging ordnance.

In discharging ordnance the usual and almost universal method employed is to arrange a quill-primer within the vent. As the vent is left open at the time of the discharge of the piece, flame and gases escape through the ventpassage, resulting in an enlargement of such passage, and the consequent cracking or starring ofthe powder-cham ber at the point where the ven t-passage enters, and in addition to this result the cannoneer is compelled to use great care to avoid accident. It has been suggested, in order to overcome these disadvantages, to provide a ven t-piecc which is screwed into the breech of the gun, with a projecting portion provided with a dovetail head, in which is formed a cavity for the recept-ion ot' a fulminate-capsule, which is held in place by a swingin gcoverand exploded by aiiring-pin or striker operated by a hammer. I have found that in this last-named method it is exceedingly didicult to provide a perfect gas-check, and that unless such check is perfectly accomplished the copper cartridge or capsule is easily fused.

The object of my invention is to overcome all the disadvantages incident to the construction ofthis above-named device; and it consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of devices, hereinafter described, for the discharge ot' a steel or other metallic gas-check primer of peculiar formation, and fully described in another application for Letters Patent which I have prepared and executed simultaneously with this.

ln order that those skilled may fully understand my invention, I will describe the same, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a rear elevation ot' a breech-plug used in heavy ordnance with my improved devices secured thereto. Fig.2 isla central vertical section at the line .r of Fig. l. Fig. 3

is a transverse section at the line y y, Fig. Fig. 4 is a similar section at z z ot' Fig. l; Fig. 5, a plan view of that portion of the face-plate immediately and Fig. 6, a section at the line l l, Fig. l.

Similar letters indicate like parts in the several figures.

A represents the usual breech-plug employed to close the breech ot' ordinary breech-loading" heavy ordnance, and B is the handle by which it is turn ed to unlock it, ready to be withdrawn.

C is a circular plate, which I secure in any suitable manner `to rear face of the plug A. This plate is open centrally, as seen at D, into the cavity E surrounding the projecting` end of the ven t-plng F, which is secured within the breech-plug A, and the rear end ot' the ventplug F is formed with an annular groove, G, for the purpose presently to be explained.

H is a lever, pivoted at one end, at I, to the face-plate C, and extended at the other end and bent outwardly the under side of this handle, projecting inwardly, is a partial cylinder, K, the lower end ot' which is formed with a circular shoulder or rib, L, adapted to it in the annular groove Gr ofthe vent-plug. rIhis cylinder K is cutaway at one side to allow it to pass the vent-plug F when the lever H is swung around upon its pivot I to cover the vent and cause the rib L to occupy its place in the groove G.

M is a spring tiring-pin, arranged in the lever H axially with the vent-passage.

N is an arm extending radially from the lever H, to provide a bearing at O for a swinging strikeror hammer, P, which is operated by a lanyard, Q, passing around in a circular groove in the pivoted end ot' the hammer, as clearly shown in Fio. 2. Thelower end ofthe arm rests against the face-plate O, and is formed with a short tongue, B, adapted to travel under a hook, S, secured to the plate C, the object being to aid in holding the lever H against any backward movement, and in this particular to assist the rib L on the part K, which, being centrally arranged, is the main reliance in this particular. As seen at Fig. 6, a spur on the under side of the pivoted end 0f the lever H lies within a short cavity in under the dotted line z z, Fig. l 5' to form a handle, J. Onl

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the face-plate, and limits the vibratory movement of the lever within the bounds necessary for its operation.

T is a hooi; secured tothe under side of the lever, and adapted to travel under the head or iiange of the cartridge U at the proper time to withdraw the same when the lever is swung` rearward on a hinge-joint, V, provided close to the point I ot' its pivoted connection with the face-plate.

lt will be observed that the pivot I and hinge V permit two movements of the lever II, one parallel with and the other at right angles to the face-plate.

The handle portion J ot the lever is bent outwardly at an an gie of about thirty degrees, to avoid pinching the hand of the gunner bctween it and the breech-plug handle B.

XV is a spring-bolt ar `an ged in the faceplate and adapted to spring into a hole in the under side ot' the free end of the lever II and lock it against accidental movement at'ter it has been brought into proper position for operatin g the rin g mechanism.

Xis a thumb-rod, which, on being pressed down, forces the spring-bolt back and releases the lever in an obvious manner when it is desired to vibrate the same on its pivot I.

In order to avoid the accidental operation ofthe hammer I, I provide a spring-latch, a, the end ot' which is forced into a hole in the bearing end ot' the same, so as to lock the same in a closed position, rendering it necessary to pull out the latch before the hammer can be operated by the lanyard.

The cartridge employed is suoli as I have described in the application for Letters Pat.- ent hereinbcfore referred to, and it is arranged within the vent-passage, so that one shoulder or iiange ofthe cartridge rests upon the end of the vent-plug, the other tlange being sutliciently far away from said end to permit the extracting-hook T to pass under the same.

From the peculiar construction ot' the eartridge U and its arrangement within the gun and with the tiring mechanism, it will be observed that upon the explosion ot' the powder in the gun the forward end ot' the tiring-cartridge expands to form a gas-check at that point, and the tiring-pin and central block or anvil of thc cartridge, as described in the application herein referred to, prevent the escape ot' any gases at that point. The form of the lever II at each side of the central locking portion K is such that with the presence ot` the cavity E the lever may be readily grasped to withdraw the plug A and direct it onto the usual supporting-tray, thus avoiding the use ot' the ordinary independent handles which are required for that purpose.

It will be understood that when guns are made having in view the employment of my improved tiring mechanism the plate C may be dispensed with and the firing mechanism attached directly to the breech-plug.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the breech-plug A, adapted to receive a suitable priming-shell, the lever Il, hinged at V, and pivoted at I to the breech-plug, and provided with suitable tiring and locking mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The pivoted and hinged lever H, secured to the removable breech-plug and extended backwardly each side ot' the center, and provided with a radial arm, N, at right angles thereto to receive the firing mechanism, whereby the lever may serve the purpose ot a handle, substantially as described, for withdrawing the breech-plug.

3. In combination with the breech-plug A, formed with the cavity E and projecting ventplug F, having annular groove G, the hinged and pivoted lever II, provided with the central and inwardly-projectin g locking mechanism K L, and extractor T, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4f In combination with the swinging lever H and radial arm N, the hook T, arranged as described, for extracting the cartridge, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

5. The radial arm N, provided with the central locking` mechanism, L, and circumferential loeking-hook It, in combination with the grooved vent-plug F and auxiliary lockinghook S, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

G. The lever H, provided with locking and tiring mechanism, as described, and extended outwardly between the pivot and lockingpoint, to form a handle for the withdrawal of the breech-plug, as hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES B. DAVIS.

Vitnesses:

M. M. Roanne. F. W. SMirH, J r.

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